Student Directors

Moton Charter School

3rd Grade Science+Film Integration

Ms Simmons/Ms Chambliss/Mr Glazebrook

Student Directors

At Robert Russa Moton Charter School, students have been learning how to script, storyboard, act in, film, edit, and revise short films as they learn about marine ecosystems and the various animals that use their surroundings for protection and food. In this short film, you can see students operating the camera, acting, working on lighting, setting up each take, and acting as directors.

In this course, we have learned how the use of greenscreen technology can allow us to create movies in settings we could never otherwise create in the classroom. When teaching film, my philosophy is to get kids working with the equipment and materials as quickly (and safely) as possible; I try to follow an apprenticeship model where students can experiment, make mistakes, and hone their skills. As you can see, students in this scene are playing an octopus who is hiding in a cave (where she can be safe from predators). A scary shark shows up and the octopus quickly makes her way to safety before the shark can have a meal!

Once students have filmed the basic scenes they need in front of the greenscreen and using the camera technology that KID smART has provided through funding from our generous donors, they can begin editing their films where they add sound effects, visual effects, camera angle cuts - and where the final story comes together. Stay tuned for the full short film to be posted shortly!